Folding-machine.



W. F. LAUTENSCHLAGER.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T, 26, 1914.

W. F. LAUTENSCHLAGBR.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIoA'rIoH YILED 001226.1914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3* miran @AWE-NT FF, y

Winamax r. LAUTENsonLAGEn, or CINCINNATI, omo.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may camera:

foXings, button-dies and the like, and for` other purposes.

It is the object of my invention to prolvide novel means in a machineofthe character mentioned whereby to control the folding of the margin;further to provide a novel fold-laying instrumentality arranged to beadjusted into various positions crosswise of the margin being folded andacting thereon in novel manner; further to provide such fold-layinginstrumentality havin a narrow pressing edge at both sides o which thefold of the margin being folded has relief from pressure, saidfold-laying edge extending crosswise of the margin being folded; furtherto provide a fold-laying edge extending in a direction toward the centerupon which theportion of the material having a convex margin is turnedduring the folding operation; further to provide means to change thedirection in which said fold-laying edge extends crosswise of the marginbeing foldedgand, further to so arrange said last-named means as to beunder the control of the operator during the operation of the'machine. I

It is the object of my invention, further,

to provide means whereby to impart a buc,

kling to the base of the fold of the'margin being folded for presentinsaid fold in opposition to a pressing fo dv-layer; further to providemeans for imparting a transverse buckle to the body of the margin beingfolded adjacent to the folder, fold-layer and presser-foot for aiding indetermining the line of the fold; further to provide novel means wherebyto lay a convex margin be.- ing `folded in puckers, so that each puckeris Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Deb. 22, 19121, Applicationmea octqber 2e, 1914.. serial N0. 868,655.

formed by a plurality of impressions of the pressing fold-layer; furtherto provide means whereby the puckering of the material is preceded by areverse bucklin of the fold of the margin being laid, the buc ed portionbeing subsequentlyA acted on .by the..fold

layer; and, further to providek novel ariangementV of mechanism wherebythe Inargin beiner folded is acted on step-by-ste relation ya folder, abuckling device, an a fold-layer, and selectively by `a L'fold-vpresser, in the order named.

-It is the object of my invention, further, to prov-ide a fold-la eradjustable toward and from a fold-bu` ing device acting Aon they margin.in advanceof,said7 fold-layer;

pso' Y further to provide a fold-buckling device and a fold-presser, andfold-layer adjustable between said fold-bucklingdevice fold-presser;further to providev means whereby said adjustments are controlled by theVoperator while the material is being folded; and, further to providenovel means said-control is effected. j y. Theainvention will be furtherlreadibT 'understood from the following description and claims, vandfrom the accompanying drawings' 1- I have exemplified my invention asernbodw ied'in a machine having operating devices, such as those shownand described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States,filed February12, 1914, Serial No.

818,250, and my present invention is an elab ovation of the inventionshown, descr 1l,\ell

and broadly claimed in my aforesaid application, to which reference ismade for greater partioularity. y

In the drawings .Figure 1 representsa side; elevation ofthe head end ofa foldingl machine embodying my .invention` Fig. 2-

is a front `end elevation of my improved device. Fig. 3 is a horizontalplan section of the same, partlybroken away, onaline y corresponding tothe irregular line 3-3 gifK Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section,

partly broken away, taken on the lineai4 of Fig. l, illustrating theVmanual control' for the .fold-layer.. Fig. 5 is a .detail in section onlthe Iline v5f5 of Fig. 4: Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts actingniargin being folded for folding the same,

,20 f lv taken on the line'11-11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12

showinI the fold-layer in rearward position, and in icating the actionof the parts on a straight margin being folded. Fig. 7 1s a similar viewshowin said parts with the fold-layer adjusted into forward posltion foracting on the convex margin of flexible material. Fig. 8 is a detail ofthe same in vertical section on the line 8 -8 of Fig. 7, showing theaction of the fold buckling device. parts with t e fold-layer adjustedinto rearward position and actingl on a concavely curved margin, thesnipping mechanism being operative for snipping the margin. Fig. 10 is averticalgsection taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1, showing a straightmargin being folded, the feeding-foot being atvits rear. limit ofmovement just priorito raising," andthe hammer in descending relation.Fig..11 is a vertical cross-section of the'same is a persfpective viewof the arts concerned in the fold-pressin movements, a convex marginbeing folde and, Fig; 13 is a perspectivel operators positionis in'front of that por? tion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, and to i the riht of themachine as shown in Fig. 2;

portion or position towa erator, and the terms rear o r retracted meanthat portion orl relation distanced'y and t at -infthe presentdescription, the terms` front or advanced, in describing a. partorrelation of" arts, means that yor near the opfrom or away from N.theoperator.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown and'described is merely anexemplification, my invention. being su'ciently broad to cover anyotherl embodiment within the sco e of the appended claims.

n machines of this'character, the flexible material exemplified at 11,12, and' 13, is arranged to be fed with a step-by-step movement,instanced in the present exemplication as accomplished by means of anoscillating feeding-foot 14. The feeding-foot isarranged to movedownwardly *and away from the operator for the feeding movement andupwardly and toward the operator for the returning movement,forfintermittently feeding the material.

- The feeding-foot is on a stem'l which'y reciprocates up and down 1nbearings 16 in the slide-frame I7. The stem has a guide 18 adjustablyclamped at suitable positions lengthwise thereof by means of :la clamp-Ilbearing 19. This guide has a guideway 20 in which a pin 21 on arocker-arm 22 is received, the rocker-arm being fast on a rockshaft 23,and acts to raise and lower the feeding-foot.

Fi 9 is a similar view of the eeding, buckling, old-laying and'.

The back and forth movements of the feedin -foot are accomplished in thepresent exemp `cation by providing the slideframe 17 with. bearings 25,which slide lengthwise on guide-rods 26 in the head 27 of the upperbracket 28 of the main frame 29. The slide-frame is provided with a rack30 fast thereon, with which a segment-gear 31 fastv on a rock-shaft 32meshes.

Suitable means are provided, such for instance, as shown and describedin my u aforesaid application, for rocking the rockshafts 23 and 32 foraccomplishing the movements of the feeding-foot above mentioned.

In the present exemplification a feed-bar 36 acts in opposition to thefeeding-foot,

this feed-bar moving back and forth in a gui'deway 37 in the lower armV38 of the main frame, this guideway having an eX-4 tension 39 in thetable 40 of the machine. 'The bracket .28 and arm 38 may extendlaterallyl from a suitable main frame or columnas shown in my aforesaidapplication. The feed-bar is mounted on anti-fricarcs'48 coinciding withthe circles f the peripheries 'of the anti-friction rollers, actl tionrollers 41journaled on studs 42 at the mg vas stops for the feed-baragainst said rollers. The table is provided with a depression 49, the.bottom of which is formed by the feed-bar. The feed-bar is moved in thefeeding movement by Contact of the material therewith, which contact lisrelieved upon raising of the feeding-foot for per- .mitting return ofthe feed-bar by means of the spring. The edge of the material isarranged to be guided against a side-guidel arranged .to be adjustablyclamped to the table by means of a clamp-screw 52 threaded into thetable through a slot 53 in the guide.

-The margin of the material is arranged to be fed past a folder 55,shown as a folding-block provided with a folding throat 5 6, and securedto the table by means of a screw 57.

Snipping means, exemplified as an upper knife 61 coacting with a lowercutter-block 62, arranged to cut or snip the margin of the material whendesired, for instance in folding concave curves, as indicated in Fig. 9.The cutter-block is arranged to be moved into and out of cuttingrelation with the upper knife, shown by being mounted on a T-slide 63,slidable in a gu1deway64,

has a' link 76 articulated therewith. A spring 77 is received aboutthelink between a bearing 78 through which the link passes and a collar79 on said link. A suitable connection, as a rod 80, connects the linkwith a suitable treadle 74 for shifting the cutter-block manually into'inoperative re- An arm 75 is rigid on the rock-shaft, and

lation during the feeding of the material,

3g through the machine. The plate 65 is ar- 'J ranged to contact aset-screw 81 adjustably positioned in a lug 82 of the lower arm oftheframe and'held in adjusted position by,

a clamp-nut 83 for deiining the cutting reab lation ofthe cutter-blockwith the upper knife. l

The retraction of the cutter-block, shown retracted in Figs. 6, 7 and12, ermits the ready flexing of the edge of tie material below thehorizontal plane of the cutting i edge of the cutter-block for insuringthat the cutter-blade may continue its oscillations thereabove withoutcutting or snipping actions thereof on the material.

A. dpresser-:toot 86 is adapted to hold the "material in place betweenfeeding move- 'lnents It is exemplified'as mounted on a Jforwardlyextending arm 87 Vrigidly secured to a reciprocating post 88reciprocating in 9i bearings 89, 90, in vthe head 27. The post is heldagainst rotation by means of a positioning screw 91 threaded into thebearing 90, the inner end of the screw being received in a slot 92extending lengthwise .5g of the post.. A spring 93 received about thepost between the bearing 89 and a collar 94 secured to the post causesyielding pressure of the presser-foot toward the material. 'lherock-shaft 23 is provided with a tapgage a collar 96 on the post 88,adjustably clamped-on the post for intermittently raising thepresser-foot during the operation of the machine, as more fully shownand. dep scribed in my aforesaid application.

For manually raising the presser-foot, a lever 97 is provided, pivotedto the bearing 90 on a screw 98 and having a knob 99 thereon receivedbetween lugs 100 on the go presser-foot arm 87. a spring 101 preventingjarring of the lever 97.

The upper cutter 61 is shown as a cutterblade adjustably secured to alever 103 by means of a clamp-screw 104 receivedthrough ijs a slot 105in the cutter-blade and threaded ball and strap connection 145 with thelever,

pet-arm 95 fast thereon arranged to' en.

into :the lever. The lever comprises a hub 106 formed by a bearing abouta cross-shari; 107, located in bearings 198 in the frame, an arm 110 towhich the cutter-blade is secured, and an arm 111 with which drivingconnection is had for operating the lever.

The drive-shaft 112 ofthe machine is provided With an eccentric 113,about vwhich an eccentric strap 114 is received. A link` 115 extendsfrom the strap and has a ball and socket connection 116 with theknife-lever. The drive-shaft is driven by suitablemeans, for instance bya suitable pulley or other power driving means, as more fully shown anddescribed in my aforesaid application.

A hold-down finger 123 is arranged to project over the margin of thematerial to be folded, preferably in front of the feeding-foot and intoadjacenc with the sideguide 51. This finger is shown secured to thepresser-foot by means 'of a clamp-screw 124 threaded into thepresser-footand received through a slotV 125 inthe linger.

I have provided novel means acting on the margin being folded for layingthe fold and pressin the same. These instrumentalities prefera lycomprise afold-buckling vice, a lfold-layer and a 'fold-presser. Theseparts maybe mounted and operated independently, but I prefer tomountthem for combined reciprocatin movement, designating the parts general yas a fold-hammer 13,1,jmounted on a lever 132 comprising a hub 13.3, anarm 134, and an arm 135. The hub is in the form of a-bearing about across-shaft" 136 received in bearings 137 in the frame.

, Drive connection isformed with the arm 135 for operating the lever,exemplified 'as an eccentric 141 on the drive-shaft 112, about which abearing 142 is received. A slide-frame 143 is received about the bearinand has slide-connection therewith. A limi 144' extends from theslide-frame and has a forming. aiball andsocket joint. This link isshown in the form of an adjusting screw threaded-into a threaded socket146 in the slide-frame and held in adjusted position by means oi alock-nut 147. The pressing force of the yeccentric v141 upon vthe hammeris imparted through the medium of a spring 148, between the bearing 142and the end wall 149 of the slide frame, so that thepressure exerted bythe hammer upon the margin being'folded is a yielding ressure,for'permitting the hammer to yield to inequalities of the material andto exert a yielding pressure upon the folded margin for pressing thesame. This drive connection 'is more particularly shown and described inmyl aforesaid application.

150 is a fold-layer, exemplied as on a Vlever 151 pivoted on ashoulder-screw 152 .received through a bearing-hole 153 in the 13opresent its fold-laying edge in different directions in the plane of themargin being folded, when in fold-pressing relation, depending onwhetherv4 a straight or concavely curved margin, or a convexly curvedmargin, is being folded. The position of the fold-layer with relation tothe margin being folded is preferably under the control of the operatorduring the operation of the machine, so that when a convex curve isreached, the fold-layer may, in the present' exempliication, be movedforwardly with-V out interruption of the folding operation. Foraccomplishing this I provide the foldlayer lever with a pin 156. A lever157 is pivoted by av bearing 158 about the rockshaft 32 and has'an alm159 to which a laterally extending arm 160 is secured. This 'laterallyextending arm is provided with` a fork 161betwee'n the tines of whichthe pin 156 isreceived so as to swing the fold-layer when the lever 157is operated. The fork 161 is arranged 'upon anarc described fromthepivot of the hammer-lever as a center, so that the operative relationbetween the pin and fork may be maintained irrespective of the positionof the hammer or of the position of the pin.- Thev lever 157 is providedwith an arm 162 having a lingerpart 163 thereon` for manually operatingthe straight margins or margins having concave curves.

Means are provided for positioning the fold-layer inintermediatepositions, which is desirable when laying the folds ofmargins which have only short straight portions or concave portions, aswell as convex portions described on curves having comparathe laid fold.Novel means are further tively long radii, in which case manualmanipulation of the fold-layer during operation of the machine is inpractice not necessary if such adjustment of the fold-layer is made. Forso positioning the fold-layer, I provide its operating lever 157 with acani 171, pivoted to the operating lever onl a shoulder-screw, 172, thecam being 'resiliently held in adjusted position by a cupwasher 173between 'the headof said provided for determining the line-of the foldand for presenting the fold of the'margin in proper relation to thefold-layer forbeing readily laid, especially when folding along convexcurves of short radii. I accomplish this by means of" a fold-bucklingdevice 178, which is ,shown integral with the hammer as an indentingpoint arranged to act on the base of the margin being folded. It ispositioned, in the present eX- emplication, immediately in rear of thefolding-block and in substantial cross line with the rear edge 179 ofthe presser-foot.

In operation, the feeding-foot acts to feed the material past thestationary foldingblock which imparts an initial curl to the margin.-The presser-foot descendsfat the end of the feeding movement of the'feedingfoot for holding the material in fed relation, whereby the rearedge 179 of the presser-foot presses uponl the body of the iiexiblematerial in a. position in substantial cross line with the rear ,edge ofthe folding block. The margin being folded is usually skived, as shownat 180, and provided with a band of cement, as shown at 181. The fold ofthe margin which has received its preparatory curl by the folding-block,is more readily flexed than'the body of the margin. When, therefore, thefold-buckling device makes contact with the margin,'it presses the bodyof the margin into' a straight line between the rear edge 179 of thepresserfoot and the rear edge of the folding block, for dening'the bend182 of the fold in the angle between the material-supporting face of thetable and the left-hand. edge of the rear of the folding-block, thusdeiining the line of the'fold, and further causes a buckling of the foldof the margin, as indicated at 183V for causing the outer end of saidfold to stand more nearly upright with relation to the body of themargin, as indicated in Fig. 8. The cement upon the inner ingly acrossthe margin being folded, and desirably across the left end of thebuolling device. In feeding such margins the material is swung about acenter having the center of the curvature of the margin substantially asits center of swing, and for properly laying the puckers l prefer toposition the fold-laying edge of the fold-layer in a directionprojecting toward said center. The fold of the margin being folded,having received its buckle previous to the action thereon by thefold-layer, presents the buckled upstanding fold of the margin morenearly at right angles to the direction in which the fold-layer extendsand creates a tendency for laying the puekers in layers which extendrearwardly, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 12. The fold-layer presses uponthe edge of the puclrer thus formed, thus pressing the inner cementedface opposite the pressing face of the fold-layer, upon the body of themargin, for definitely maintaining the cross lines of the pucker, as thepres'- sure exerted in my improved device in hammering the margin uponthe body of the material by means of the fold-laying portion of thehammer causes a definite laying of the puclrer and attachment of thecross edge thereof'to the body, this hammering being sufficient tolocate and maintain the puckers without subsequent pressure upon thepuckers inthe machine if desired.

For aiding in causing stiffness of the body of themargin in a cross lineduring the action of the hammer upon the margin, for determining thelineof fold, and also for aidingin feeding the material, I prefer toprov-*ide'thetable 'with the depression 49, into which the feeding-footcauses depression of the body of the material during the feedingmovement, as indicated at 181, whereby a cross-buckle, indicated at 185,is imparted to the body of the margin adjacent to the point of operationon the fold of the margin by the hammer, for stiffening the body in theline between the'rear edge of the presserfoot and the stationaryfolding-block, for insuring that the bend 182 of the margin willbepushed into'the angle between the material-supporting surface of thetable andv the outer edge of the folding-block during the creasedetermining action. Tension upon the outer edge of the fold of themargin is also relieved bycausing the body of the margin to be depressedin the depression in advance of the fold-laying instrumentality and atthe side of the folding-block.

y 176 is a fold-presser which is arranged to act on the margin, `forpressing the fold subsequent to the action thereon by the foldlayer.This fold-presser is preferably rigid with the hammer. Y

The feeding, folding'and fold-hammering means are so correlated as tolay afold in manner to minimize tension upon the extreme edge of the`margin being folded.

When a straight margin is being folded the margin is permitted to assumea comparatively long curl, as indicated in Fig. 6, and when foldingconvexly curved margins, the fold-layer is presented in such manner asto lay cross-puckers in adj acency to each other and to insure pressureat the front and rear cross edges of said puckers for locating the same.

Each of the puckers is formed by a plurality of operations of thefold-layer, the rst of which determines vthe rear cross line of thepucker and secures the pucker at its rear edge to the body of the marginby pressure of the fold-layer upon4 this laid-over rear cross-line ofthe pucker and the cement thereunder, and the second of which lays thepucler in its fold, as indicated at 187, and determines the forwardcross edge of the pucker by contact with and pressure upon the buckledfold of the margin, pressing said forward edge upon the cement and bodyof the margin for fixing said forward edge of the pucker. The laying ofthe fold of the convex margin in regular puckers is thus assured. Thepressing edge of the fold-layer is sufficiently wide to insure lastingadhesion `of the pressed edges of the puckers of the fold to the body ofthe margin.

The fold-presser is arranged to be adjusted to positions between theforward margin-buckling device and the rearward fold-pressing devicebymeans of the cam 171, for defining one limit of its path of movementduring manual manipulation.

Having thus 'fully describedl myinvention, what I claim as new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a folding machine for folding-the margin of iiexible materiaLthecombination of step-by-step. feeding means, a folder acting to partiallyfold the margin, and a foldlayer having a narrow pressing face extendingcrosswise of the fold of the margin being laid andv having relief frompressing action on said fold in rear of said narrow pressing face forthe formation of a pucke'r and arranged to press thel fold upon-the bodyof the margin successively at the rear edge and at the front edge of'said pucker in a line transverse to said fold, and means for shiftingsaid fold-layer for presenting said narrow pressing face in differentdirections crosswise of said fold in a plane parallel to said pressedmargin when in foldpressing relation.

"2. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material.the combination of step-by-step feeding means', a folder` acting topartially fold the margin, a foldbuckling devicelacting uponA the base'of the partially folded margin to buckle the fold for presenting theouter edge of its buckled portion in upward direction, and a foldlayer4extending crosswise of the buckled port-ion of the fold of the marginbeing laid arranged to press the fold upon the body of the margin in aline transverse to said fold.

3. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, thecombination of al material-support, step-by-step feeding means, a folderarranged to partially bend the fold of the margin, a presser-foot actingat the side of said folder and having a pressing part substantially incross-line with the rear edge of the folding face of said folder, and abuckling device acting on the base of said fold of said margin arrangedfor pressing the bend between the body and the fold of the margin intothe4 angle between .the supporting face of said material-support andsaid rear edge of said folding face for defining the line of the foldand buckling said partially bent fold, and a fold-layer having afold-pressing face extending crosswise of said fold of said margin forpressing said fold upon said body of said margin.

4. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, thecombination of step-by-step feeding means comprising an upper feedingpart, a material supporting table, a folder for partially folding saidmargin, a presser-foot having a presser portion in substantialcross-line with the rear edge of the folding face of said folder, and ahammer, the material supporting surface of said table having adepression therein whose rear wall is adjacent'to said crossline, andsaid upper feeding part arranged to press the material into saiddepression for forming a buckle in the body of the margin between saidfolder and said presser portion adjacent to said hammer.

5. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, thecombination of stp-by-Step feeding means comprising an upper feedingpart, a material supporting table, a folder for partially folding saidmargin, a presser-foot having a presser-part in substantial cross-linewith the rear edge of the folding face of said folder, and a hammer, thematerial supporting surface of said table having a depression therein atthe side of said folder whose rear wall is adjacent to said cross-line,said upper feeding part arranged to press the material into saiddepression for forming a buckle in the body of the margin between saidfolder and said presser part adjacentvto said hammer for relieving theouter edge of said fold from tension.

6. In a folding machine for folding the Vmargin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, for partiallyforming the fold of the margin, a fold-layer, and a fold-buckling deviceof the character described acting onsaid fold of the margin between saidfolder and said fold-layer.

7. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, thecombination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder for partiallyforming the fold of the margin, a fold-layer, a fold-buckling device of'the character described acting on' said fold of the margin between saidfolder and said fold-layer, and a fold-pressing device in rear of saidfold-layer.

8. In a folding machinefor folding the margin of flexible material, thecombination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder for partiallyforming the fold of the margin, a presser-foot acting on the body of thematerial in substantial cross-line with the rear edge of the foldingface of said folder, a fold-layer, and a fold-buckling Vdevice acting onthe base of the fold of the margin between said folder and saidfoldlayer adjacent to said rear edge of said folding face.

9. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, thecombination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder for partiallyforming the fold of the margin, a pressure-foot acting on the body ofthe material in substantial cross-line with the rear edge of the foldingface of said folder, a fold-layer, a fold-buckling device acting on thebase of the fold of the margin between said folder and said fold-layeradjacent to said rear edge of said folding. face, and a. buckling deviceacting on the body of said margin adjacent tosaid cross-line.

10. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a fold-bucklingdevice,. a fold-presser, and a fold-layer movable forward and backbetween said fold-buckling device and foldpresser.

11. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a fold-bucklingdevice, a fold-presser, and a fold-layer movable forward and backbetween said fold-buckling device and foldpresser, and means under thecontrol of the operator during the feeding and folding operations-of themachine for effecting said movements of said fold-layer.

12. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a fold-bucklingdevice, a fold-presser, a foldlayer movable forward and back. between.said fold-buckling device and fold-presser, means under the control ofthe operator during the feeding and folding operations of the machinefor effecting said last-named movements, and resilient means fornormally moving said fold-layer to one limit of its path.

13. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination lio of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, afold-buckling device, a fold-presser, a foldlayer movable forward andback between said fold-buckling device and fold-presser, means under thecontrol of the operator during the feeding and folding operations of'the machine for effecting said movements of said fold-layer, and meansfor adjusting one of the limits of "movement of said fold-layer.

' lel. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a presser-footopposite said folder, a .foldlayer shiftable forward and back, and afold-buckling device between said folder and fold-layer, said fold-layerwhen in forward position extending in a direction crosswise of the foldbeing laid and toward the cross plane in which said folder is located.

15. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination' of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a presser-footopposite said folder, a foldlayer shiftable forward and back, and afold-buckling device between said folder and fold-layer having afold-buckling edge, said fold-layer when in forward positionintersecting the cross plane in which said foldbuckling edge is locatedand extending in a direction crosswise of the fold being laid.

In a .folding machine for folding the convexly curved margin of flexiblematerial, the combination ofstep-by-step feeding means, a fold-layerhaving a narrow foldpressing face extending crosswise of the fold of themargin being pressed and having relief at each side thereof frompressure upon said fold for pressing said fold in narrow successivecross-lines which are spaced apart and converge toward the normally freeedge of the fold being laid for forming puckers, and a buckling deviceacting in advance of said fold-layer on 'the base of the fold being madeby said folder.

17. In a folding machine for folding the convexly curved margin offiexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, afold-layer having a narrow foldpressing face extending crosswise of thefold of the margin being pressed and having relief at each side thereoffrom pressure upon said fold for pressing said fold in narrow successivecross lines which are spaced apart and converge toward the nor-` mallyfree edge of the fold being laid for forming puckers by successivefold-laying and pressing actions of said Afold-layer, and a bucklingdevice acting in advance of said fold-layer on the bases of the puckersbeing formed between said successive actions.

18. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible materialhaving a convexly curved edge, the combination of stepby-step feedingmeans, a folder acting to partially turn the fold of the mar 'n, apresser-foot acting opposite to said older,

said material arranged to be turned in feedy ing the same upon a curvehaving the center from which its convex edge is described substantiallyas a center, and a shiftable fold-layer shiftable forward and back andextending when in ,forward position crosswise of the fold being laidslantingly from partially turn the fold `of the margin, a

presser-foot. acting opposite -to said folder, said material arranged tobe turned in feeding the same upon a curve having the center from whichits convex edge is described substantially as a center, a shiftablefoldlayer shiftable forward and back and extending when in forwardposition crosswise of the fold being laid from a, point to rear of saidfolder toward said center, and a foldbuckling devicevacting on the baseof the fold of said margin between said folder and fold-layer.

20. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a fold-bucklingdevice, an adjustable foldlayer adjustable forward and back crosswise ofthe margin being folded, and a foldpresser, 'said folder, fold-bucklingdevice, fold-layer and fold-presser acting progressively on the marginof the material in the order named(y Q1. In a folding machine forfolding the margin of flexible materiah'the combination of step-by-stepfeeding means, a folder, a.

vpivoted fold-layer 'acting on the margin of the material subse uent tosaid folder, a lever on which sai fold-layer is pivoted, and means forshifting said fold-layer comprising an arm having a portion curvedsubstantially on an arc described from a center coincident with thepivotal axis of said lever.

22. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a pivotedfold-layer acting on the mar of the material subsequent to said fol er,a lever on which said fold-layer is pivoted, means for shifting saidfold-layer comprising an arm having a portion curved substantially on anare described from a center coincident with the pivotal axis of saidlever,

and means for adjustably limiting said shifting.

` 23. In a foldingmachine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a pivotedfold-layer acting on the margin of the material subsequent to saidfolder, a lever on which said fold-layer is pivoted, means for shiftingsaid fold-layer comprising an arm having a portion curved substantiallyon an arcl described from a center coincident With the pivotal axis ofsaid lever, and means under the control of the operator during thefeeding movements of the material for shifting said arm.

24. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a pivotedfold-layer acting on the margin of the material subsequent to saidfolder, a lever on Which said fold-layer is pivoted,

4means for shifting said fold-layer comprisingan arm having a portioncurved substantially on an are described from a center coincident Withthe pivotal axis of said lever, and means under the control of theoperator during the feeding movements of the material for adjustablylimiting said shifting.

25. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a presser-footacting opposite thereto, a pivoted fold-layer acting on the marginsubsequent to said folder, a rock-shaft having operative connection withsaid feeding means, and a lever pivoted about the axis of said rockshaftand under the manual control of the operator during said feedingmovements, said lever having operative connection vwith said fold-layerfor adjusting its crosswise position on the margin bein@ laid.

26. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a presser-footacting opposite thereto, a pivoted fold-layer acting on the marginsubsequent to said folder, a rock-shaft having operative connection withsaid feeding means, a lever pivoted about the axis of said rockshaft andunder the manual control of the operator during said feeding movements,said lever having operative connection with said fold-layer foradjusting its crosswise position on the margin being laid, andresilivent means for normally returning said lastnamed lever to onelimit of its path.

27. In a folding machine for folding the margin .of flexible material,the combination of a folder, a presser-foot, the rear ends of saidfolder and presser-foot being in' substantial cross-line with eachother, a material-supporting table having a materialsupporting surface,said material-supporting surface having a depression therein at the sideof said folder, the rear Wall of said depression being substantially atsaid crossline, a fold-presser acting in rear of said folder anddepression, and step-by-step feeding means acting at the side of saidfolder comprising a member forming the bottom for said depression and anupper feeding part above said bottom for feeding the material andforming a depressed portion therein at the side of said folder and infront of said fold-layer.

28. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of` a folder, a material-supporting table having amaterial-supporting surface, said material-supporting surface having adepression therein at the side of said folder, a fold-presser acting inrear of said folder, and step-by-step feeding means acting at the sideof said folder, said feeding means comprising a reciprocating barforming the bottom of said depression and a feeding part above said barhaving reciprocating and up and down movements for feeding the materialbetween said feeding part and bar.

29. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of a folder, a material-supporting table having amaterial-supporting surface, said material-supporting surface having adepression therein at the side of said folder, a i

fold-presser acting in rear of said folder, step-by-step feeding meansacting at the side of said folder, said feeding means comprising areciprocating bar forming the bottom of said depression, a feeding partabove said bar having reciprocating and up and down movements forfeeding the material between said feeding part and bar, and antifrictionrollers upon which said bar is mounted.

80. In a folding machine'for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of a folder, a material-supporting table having amaterial-supporting surface, said material-supporting surface having adepression therein at the side of said folder, a fold-presser acting inrear of-said folder, step-by-step feeding vmeans acting at the side ofsaid folder, said feeding means comprising a reciprocating bar formingthe bottom o f said depression, a feeding-part above said bar havingreciprocating and up and down movements for feeding the material betweensaid feeding part and bar, and resilient means for normally returningsaid bar to one limit of its movements.

31. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder for partiallyfolding the margin, and a foldhammer comprising a forward fold-press- 4ing part, a rear fold-pressing part, and a' fold-layer adjustablebetween said foldpressing parts for extending in different directionscrosswise of the fold of the margin in a plane substantially parallel tothe plane of said margin when in fold-pressing relation.

82. In a folding machine for folding the margin. of flexible material,the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder fold-hammercomprising a 1,121,85a gea for partially folding the margin, and afoldharnmer comprisin a forward fold-pressing part, a rear fo d-pressingart, a foldlayer adiustable between said old-pressing parts forextending in dierent directions crosswise of the fold of the margin in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of said margin when infold-pressing relation, and means under the control of the operatorduring the operation of the machine for adjusting said fold-layer.

ln a folding machine for foldin the margin of flexible material, the comination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder for partially foldingthe margin, and a forward foldpressing part, a rear fold-pressing part,and a fold-layer adjustable between said foldpressing parts forextending in dierent directions erosswise of the fold of the margin in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of said margin When infold-pressing relation, means under the control of the operator duringthe operation of the machine for shifting said fold-layer, and means foradjustably limiting the length of path of shifting movement of saidfold-layer.

34. ln a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material,the combination of step-hy-step feeding means, a folder for partiallyfolding the margin, and a foldhammer comprising a forward fold-pressingpart, and a rear fold-pressing part, and a fold-layer adjustable betweensaid foldpressing parts for extending in dierent directions crosswise ofthe fold of the inargin in a plane substantially parallel to the planeof said margin When in fold-pressing relation, means under the controlof the operator during the operation of the machine for shifting saidfolddayer, for normally returning said fold-layer to one limit of itspath.

ln testimony whereof, l. have hereunto signed m' name 1n the .resence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLM ll. LUTENSGHLGEE. lfllitnesses flammea ll/l. Sirena, @Harinas E.Warm.

and means

